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As per the new rule announced by the FMCSA in the ELD mandate, all CMVs must be equipped with ELDs or AOBRDs by the end of December 2017. Most trucking companies are now going for ELD implementation as a result. If you are one of those companies and ready to transition but don’t know where to start, we’ve got your back.

Here’s a list of the most common mistakes trucking companies make while moving to electronic logging devices. By avoiding these ELD implementation mistakes, you can make your fleet’s compliance shift as smooth as possible.

1. Overpaying for ELD Implementation

Although shifting to ELDs have significant advantages and their overall benefits far outweigh the costs, there are a lot of ELD service providers out there that are overpriced and don’t have the quality to match.

Make sure you do your research and take the best available deal possible in terms of value for money. It’s a common mistake for companies to overestimate the cost of shifting to an ELD; some good ELD providers are not as pricey as you fear.

For example, KeepTruckin gives you an excellent package by only charging for the monthly fee with as low as $20 per month. And this $20 per month is all you pay. It means that there are no additional charges for hardware, installation, or support.

The technological advances in this industry help do more for far less money than before. Companies can issue smartphones or tablets to their drivers or simply let them install it on their personal devices, which makes it a very cost-effective solution. You have to make sure you choose the best price in the market.

If you are looking for a cost-effective ELD solution, use our interactiveELD price comparison chart to find the most reliable and affordable ELD solution for your fleet.

2. Dealing with Unregistered and Uncertified ELD Providers

Make sure your ELD service provider is registered and approved by the FMCSA. As you evaluate ELD vendors, ask them to prove to you that they can deliver on each one of the features mentioned as requirements on the ELD Mandate — if they can’t, you won’t be compliant with the ELD mandate.

For example, fleet management software, such as IFTA and GPS tracking help you save time on tedious tasks like calculating fuel tax and driver check calls. You should thus pay attention to the features your ELD vendor provides you with, because good features will lead to a more organized and improved means of communication between fleet managers and truck drivers.

4. Lack of Proper Training

When it comes to ELD implementation, proper training is essential. No ELD solution can be properly implemented if the users aren’t trained efficiently. They must know how to properly use electronic logging devices (ELDs) to their best advantages.

Fleets who don’t pay enough attention on proper training experience an uneasy transition process. Drivers feel uncomfortable adopting a new technology, and so do fleet managers. Therefore, it is essential that you pay a lot of focus in proper training before the ELD implementation. You should also seek sufficient support and help from your ELD provider, which brings us to our next point.

5. Missing Out on Technical Support

ELDs or electronic logging devices are still relatively new in the trucking industry. Proper technical support is extremely important and necessary for a smooth transition from paper logs to ELDs.

Whenever you are implementing ELDs, make sure that you are choosing a provider that offers the best technical support.

From purchasing to installation to ELD implementation, you will require a lot of assistance and professional help.

6. Waiting Till the Deadline

If you’re a trucker, fleet owner, or manager good things will not be coming to you if you wait. It could mean you getting hefty fines or lots of costly inefficiency, overpayment, and risk.

Waiting till the December 2017 ELD mandate deadline to transition is an overpriced mistake, because it’s likely that vendors may increase cost due to high demand near the end. Also, vendors maybe jammed by the end date and you might end up actually missing the deadline.

If you choose to keep spending on paper logs instead of transitioning as soon as you can, you are actually spending needless money and forgoing a lot of savings which a switch to an ELD solution will provide you with. Besides, we all know the various economics benefits of ELDs. You can actually save more than $5,400 per truck every year with electronic logging devices if you implement now.

7. Getting Into a Long-Binding Contract

It is important to look into the duration of the contract your ELD solution provider is offering you. Most ELD vendors bind the fleets with a tedious three to five years contract. These long contracts may be too long for you, if you don’t like their services. What if you want to shift to a better provider?

Long binding contracts may start seeming like a prison cell to you if the services provided are not up to par. Look for the minimum 1-year contract so you have the option of moving to another ELD provider if you want. More power to you!

Parting Advice

You can easily avoid these ELD implementation mistakes to make your transition journey as easy as possible. ELDs are not just here to adhere to industry regulations; they also offer you better solutions to your logging problems. These electronic logging devices can provide complete transparency and help eliminate any lags or common violations, while also improving your company’s efficiency and reducing the overall costs.

KeepTruckin is offering the most affordable ELD solution in the market. Prices start from just $20 per month, with no hidden charges like hardware or installation whatsoever. Moreover, with KeepTruckin, you can do a 1-year contract, instead of getting bound in a 3-5 years contract.

For more details, check out this interactive ELD price comparison tool to see exactly how you much you should pay for ELD implementation.

You can also request a demo for the KeepTruckin ELD, and a product specialist will get right in touch with you with all the information you need.